NJ’s Medicinal Marijuana Program is “on hold” according to a spokesman from the Governor’s Policy Department. No word from ATC permit holders.

CMMNJ Board members met with NJ A.G. Paula Dow on 5/24/11 to express our concerns. Dow defended her actions and said she wrote a follow up letter to U.S. A.G. Eric Holder after not getting a reply to her initial letter. NJ AG asks guidance from feds; "inappropriate," per CMMNJ; Dow’s concern is that the Medical marijuana law could put dispensaries and state employees at legal risk, according to U.S. Attorneys in other medical marijuana states. No formal reply is expected from NJ’s U.S. Attorney Fishman.

State Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) introduced SCR 120 on 5/26/11, a resolution that “Urges the Governor to support and advocate for passage of federal Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act.” The move in Trenton comes just one day after the federal legislation was re-introduced in Congress.

ASA tells feds, "Cease and desist" from interfering in state medical marijuana laws; ASA calls on the federal government to create policies to protect medical cannabis patients from further harm.

Mary O'Dowd sworn in as state health commissioner; Dr. Tan #2. CMMNJ requests a meeting with these two officials. CMMNJ also faxed a request to meet with Gov. Christie. Still trying to schedule a meeting with Congressman Holt.

Recent CMMNJ events: Help needed updating CMMNJ’s revamped web site (using Joomla!)—any volunteers for this? CMMNJ canceled our involvement in Breastfest 5/14/11 due to weather. CMMNJ participated in the PhillyNORML march and TLA event on 5/21/11, but lost money (-$160) due to poor t-shirt sales and sponsorship of TLA event. On the bright side, the Rapture did not occur as feared on 5/21.

Upcoming events: Cheryl Miller Memorial Vigil, 6/7/11 at the State House in Trenton, NJ, starts at 7;30 pm. Medical Marijuana Expo in West Atlantic City 6/25/11 by Brendan 609.994.7184. Expo will be held at Lakes Bay Resort Hotel, 8029 Black Horse Pike, Atlantic City from 10:00 am to 4:20 pm. Admission is $20. CMMNJ will have an information booth and speakers. Southern Shore Music Festival June 18, 2011 at Cumberland Co. Fairgrounds from 11 am to 8 pm. Volunteers needed. CMMNJ Board meeting 6/19/11 at 6 pm at Peter’s house.

Rescheduling update?

Treasury report: Checking: $3806; PayPal: $3262. Make a tax-deductible donation to CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Use Paypal on our web site, or send a check to "CMMNJ" to the address below. Get a free t-shirt for a donation above $15—specify size.

CMMNJ's meetings are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 - 9 PM at the Lawrence Twp. Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Twp., Tel. #609.882.9246. All are welcome. (Meeting at the library does not imply their endorsement of our issue.) For more info, contact:

"Medical marijuana law could put dispensaries, state employees at legal risk, according to USDOJ memo." NJ AG asks guidance from feds; "inappropriate" per CMMNJ; NSL agrees. Inquirer agrees. CMMNJ requests meeting with AG Dow. Dow sent letter to the press, first, then to the U.S. A.G. David Fishman, U.S. Attorney in NJ said he will not respond to Dow’s letter as he was only copied on it. Eric Holder to issue a directive? Ask Congressman Holt and other congressmen for Congressional hearings on federal interference in state medical marijuana programs. Plans for a CMMNJ Day in D.C? Ask NJ Sens. Scutari and Weinberg for a medical necessity defense (winnable) and home cultivation (low probability of success.)

Silence of non-profit organizations that won permits to operate ATC’s in NJ is not helpful.

ASA tells feds, "Cease and desist" on May 2, 2011. Strategy session to counter U.S.Attorneys’ letters during recent national conference call. Get the governors of the various medical marijuana states involved (Nat. Governors Association meeting is the first week in June). Christie unlikely to be champion. Then work on Congress, though small but growing support there for medical marijuana. Get legislators to write letters to Congress. Medical Marijuana stories should focus on the patients, not the industry.

Upcoming events: Southern Shore Music Festival June 18, 2011 at Cumberland Co. Fairgrounds from 11 am to 8 pm. Volunteers needed—Larry V. offered to help; need one more. Breastfest 5/14/11. PhillyNORML march and TLA event, 5/21/11. League of Municipalities in November in A.C.—CMMNJ to participate again this year.

SB 1003 introduced in PA senate—referred to Public Health and Welfare Committee.

Update on Medical Marijuana Expo in West Atlantic City 6/25/11 by Brendan 609.994.7184. Expo will be held at Lakes Bay Resort Hotel, 8029 Black Horse Pike, Atlantic City from 10:00 am to 4:20 pm. Admission is $20. CMMNJ will have an information booth and speakers.

Rescheduling update? Francine, our contact at the Division of Consumer Affairs has no real progress to report from our meeting with Mr. Calcagni in Feb., 2011.

CMMNJ resubmitted comments on the proposed DHSS Medicinal Marijuana Program rules. If comments are ignored, individuals at the meeting discussed various forms of civildisobedience they were willing to perform, acting as individuals and not as CMMNJ members, to dramatize attention to their concerns. All comments are reportedly locked in the DHSS commissioner’s office.

Treasury report: Checking: $3944; PayPal: $3281. Make a tax-deductible donation to CMMNJ, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Use Paypal on our web site, or send a check to "CMMNJ" to the address below. Get a free t-shirt for a donation above $15—specify size.

Ken and Jim at Redbank Fundraiser

About The Coalition

Coalition members hold diverse opinions, but we all agree:

Arresting patients is wrong, and it must stop now.

Modern clinical research, centuries of experience and the impassioned personal accounts of thousands of real patients concur: Marijuana can alleviate symptoms of certain serious medical conditions, and it can do so when other drugs fail to help.

Doctors should be free to recommend this medicine to promote health, and sick or injured New Jerseyans should be free to use it responsibly.

The safety margin for therapeutic marijuana is as wide as it can be ─there is no known lethal dose.

New Jersey healthcare professionals dispense potentially lethal drugs every day. We trust them to do so very carefully, and solely to benefit their patients. Common sense and compassion demand that doctors should control non-lethal marijuana medicine for those who truly need it. To make this important change a reality, your voice is needed.

The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was introduced in the State Senate in January 2005 by Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden). A companion bill is pending in the Assembly, sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton) and Assemblyman Michael Carroll (R-Morris Township).